Controversial former congressman to speak at Tea Party meeting

ROCK FALLS – The president of the Sauk Valley Tea Party says she is always looking for speakers who can “pull more people out of the community” to attend the group’s events.

With that goal in mind, Amanda Norris has found just the right man.

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh will be the guest speaker at a meeting of the Sauk Valley Tea Party on March 26. Walsh, a Tea Party Republican, was defeated in November by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran.

Walsh, 51, served one term representing Illinois’ former 8th District in Lake and McHenry counties.

Norris said Walsh will deliver a presentation on the state of the economy and discuss “two different visions of America.” He also will answer questions.

She acknowledged the former congressman attracted attention in the past.

“We want to have topics and guest speakers that attract more people and create excitement,” Norris said. “He’s a very passionate speaker. He brings a little bit of excitement.”

Some might call that a lot of excitement. Walsh has been known to stir controversy in the past. Last year, he drew criticism when he said medical advances had made it unnecessary to perform an abortion to save a mother’s life.

He later backtracked on the remark, saying that there are “very rare circumstances” in which a pregnant woman may need to undergo an abortion to save her life.